We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Carleah East and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Carleah, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, my joy comes from embracing freedom; freedom to travel, to laugh loud, to try new things, and to live authentically without apology. After years of showing up for everyone else, I’ve made the intentional choice to pour back into myself. That looks like spontaneous trips, exploring new restaurants, moving my body in ways that feel good, and unapologetically saying ‘yes’ to experiences that light me up and ‘no’ to anything that drains me.
I’ve learned that joy isn’t always found in the big milestones. It’s in the everyday practice of honoring who you are and what you need. For me, that means living boldly, loving deeply, and giving myself the grace to evolve without explanation. That journey of becoming, of standing fully in my authenticity, is my greatest joy right now.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Carleah East, a Clinical Psychotherapist, Speaker, Author, and unapologetic badass on a mission to help women redefine resiliency and embrace their most authentic lives. Through my private practice, SMILE Psychology, I bring a no-nonsense yet compassionate approach where science meets soul. I also lead Dr. East Speaks, my speaking and coaching platform where I deliver keynotes, workshops, and my signature Wine & Wisdom events—spaces designed to pour truth, laughter, and healing into women from all walks of life.
What makes my work unique is that I don’t sugarcoat. I combine straight talk with heart, empowering women to face life’s messiness with courage and confidence. My journey is deeply personal—navigating my own seasons of loss, divorce, and reinvention has taught me that resilience isn’t about just surviving, it’s about thriving authentically.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my reach through my podcast, growing my speaking platforms, and creating new ways for women to connect with content that inspires, empowers, and challenges them to live boldly. Whether I’m in the therapy chair, on a stage, or behind a microphone, my mission is the same: to remind women that strong doesn’t mean silent, and authenticity is the real power move.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is usually a combination of unspoken expectations, lack of trust, and fear of vulnerability. When we stop communicating honestly, when pride gets louder than compassion, and when we hide behind walls instead of letting people see our truth, that’s when relationships fracture.
What restores those bonds is courage, the courage to take accountability, to listen without defensiveness, and to extend grace even when it’s uncomfortable. Healing doesn’t happen through perfection; it happens through presence. We restore connection when we’re willing to show up messy but genuine, willing to rebuild trust brick by brick, and willing to put love and authenticity above ego. That’s where the magic of human connection lives.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could. Success often gives you applause, recognition, and validation, but it rarely asks you to look deeper. Suffering, on the other hand, will strip you bare. It forces you to sit with the pain, to confront the silence, and to ask yourself who you really are when everything else is removed.
Through my seasons of loss, heartbreak, and reinvention, suffering became my teacher in ways success never could. It showed me that strength is not about pretending you are fine, but about allowing yourself to be broken and still choosing to rise again. It taught me patience when I wanted quick solutions, humility when I thought I was in control, and compassion for myself when I was tempted to be my own harshest critic.
Suffering taught me resilience, not the glossy version people post about, but the raw truth of learning how to keep moving forward when your legs feel too heavy to stand. Success will celebrate you, but suffering will shape you. And once you have walked through the fire and survived, you discover a power within yourself that no accolade or title could ever give you. You stop fearing the storms because you know you have already learned how to dance in the rain.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is the real me, but it is not the whole me. What you see on stage, on a podcast, or in a workshop is absolutely who I am: bold, unapologetic, passionate, and committed to helping women live authentically. That energy is real.
But like anyone else, I have layers. The public version of me is curated. It is the part of me that is ready to serve, to pour, to inspire. The private version of me is softer, quieter, and still figuring things out just like everyone else. Both are real, and both deserve space.
What I’ve learned is that authenticity does not mean putting every detail of your life on display. It means that the parts you do share are true, unfiltered, and aligned with who you really are. So yes, the woman you see in public is the real me, but she is also balanced by the woman who laughs loudly in her kitchen, cries when she needs to, and keeps growing in private. Both versions make me whole
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, my customers would miss my realness. They would miss having someone who doesn’t just tell them what they want to hear, but what they need to hear, with love, with humor, and with compassion. They would miss the safe space I create where it’s okay to be messy, to be vulnerable, and to still feel powerful in the process.
What makes me different is that I do not hide behind jargon or a polished façade. I show up as myself; straight-shooting, empathetic, and unapologetic, and that gives people permission to do the same. If I stepped away, they would miss that combination of truth and soul, the ability to laugh in one breath and cry in the next, and the reminder that strong doesn’t mean silent. That’s the heartbeat of my work, and that is what people would carry with them long after I left the stage or closed the therapy door.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smilepsychology.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcarleaheast/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smilepsychologyllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcarleah/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQI2HbRlfMpcZ7B9uuC_uGMgyAIUppw-H
